Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-07
ELKT0M.

|
pecinl Correspondents OF Gazette and Journa. .
E1,xros. March 3l.--Charles Biddle OF
North East, aged about 30 years, was
LACED on trial yesterday morning IN tne =
Jeoil county circuit court on the oharse .
4 assault with intent to kin Josepn =
Lyuch Of the same place. Lynch was \
hot by Biddle In the afternoon OF tine :
,Ath of Last December while standing al
M window of his pear cider saloon IN
North East. The load from the double
barreled breech. loading gun took enect
N his face and made him totally blind.
I,vnoh IL now serving term In jail TOT
violating the old local option law. he
was led into the courtroom.
States Attorney Bratton was assisted In
the persecution by Austin L. Urothers,
Eaq. while Albert Constable and William
II. Warburton, Esqs., defended Biddie.
The defence made 20 challenges, all that
Is allowed by law, before jury was OBJ
tanned, Those chosen were John "
Marklein, Philip jackson, Ambrose Rich
ardson, William McOrery, Charles
Foard, George Dougherty, Amos Lewis,
William Cameron, Charles George, FRANK
K, Suter, Charles Clayton and Mr., Russell.
After States Attorney Bratton made an
opening statement, Lynch, tall, stalWart
younR man, was called 10 the stand. He
testified that Jack Pearce and Jim
Reedy came to his place drunk and got
some cider. They began fighting and he
put them out. Pearce came back and
struck at witness, who again put him out.
About 10i or Is minutes later Charley |
Biddle came along and came into his |
place with knife, which was open, IN |
his hand, saying, "You beat my uncle
but you can't beat me,n and cut Of him
twice. Witness then threw q mallet or
something at him. Biddle went out and
threw stone through the win
dow. Lynch threw bottle at Biddle
and the latter threw IL back. Lynch took
British bull dog revolver that he kept
In the place and fired through the window
upwards into the porch roof to frighten
the crowd. Biddle went away and came
back with gun, which he fred at Lynch,
who was standing at the window.
DR.. Worrall, who attended Lynch,
stated the nature of his wounds, and said
his sight was totally destroyed. Harry
| West, e. Cameron, Somertield Detord,
John Husfelt and 8. w. Day testified to
the shooting, after which the state rested
| Its case.
Summerfleld Deford was recalled by
the defence and stated that Lynch came
out on his porch with q revolver in his
hand and aaid he would shoot any one
that came on his premises, especially
Charley Biddle. William Master, colored,
oorroborated Deford In regard to Lynch
coming on the porch with revolver In
his hand and warning all off.
Charles Biddle, the prisoner, was called
to the stand. He testified that he had nc
knife in his hand, and did not throw {
stone through the window. He could no
say whether he struck IL with his fist OF
not, but did mot think It likely. Lynol
threw bottle and he threw 1t back
Lynch fired at him with reyolve
through the window. He went home ami
, afterwards went down toward Lynch
place to see how his uncle was beinI
treated, and took the gun along for pro
lection. He walked short distance pas
/ Lynoh's place, and, finding that he wa
/ not there, having been taken charge o
by the constable, he started back. II
t saw Lynch at the window with reyolye
\ | in his hand about to fire at him, an
raised the gun quickly and that to defen
9 himself.
9 Israel X. Dean, Afford Ford jess
Q Lumm, r. L. Thomas, Jr., Thomas Abrl
/, ham, Magistrate Deford and Constabl
/. Mckinney, testified that Biddle was
peaceable, orderly and industrious lat
Y This closed the testimony, and States A
' torney Bratton was addressing the jur
= when court adjourned until 7.30 p. m.
! At the night session States Attorne
d Bratton concluded his address. Willial
/, I. Warburton and Albert Constable TO
J. lowed for the prisoner, occupying the a
N tention Of the court until Rdjournmen
1t John Davis, colored, of North EaB
y was committed to jail yesterday by Ma
Il istrate Deford of North East on Il
>. charge of beating his wife Helen. Wi
IA beating ia the only offence in MarylaI
is for which the whipping post is the pei
r, atty. There have been no convictions
a Cecil for the offence since that penal
10 was affixed.
!. ELKroN, April 1.-The case OF state v
Charles Biddle, charged with assault wi
intent to kill Joseph Lynch in having sh
IS him in tho face and DESTROYED hls siEt
" was concluded yesterday in tha cirer
!, court for Cecil oOuGty. The closing arg
or ment for the state was made by Austin
ID Orothers, Esq. Although his first effort
"a was strong address and highly creditat
q to the young lawyer. The Jury retired abO
: IL O'Clock and returned four hours later wi
o. n verdict of guilty. The jury stood eight
~ conviction and four for common assault
o. acquittal on the first ballot. A motion
z. | new trial and sentence was deferre
40 The penalty Is from two to 10 years IN t
oa penitentiary.
n Bill Thomas, colored, pleaded guilty
~ improper exposure Of his person, and
as sentence OF six months In jail and u q
~ and costs was imposed.
he At night session William Henry Ar
es strong was placed on trial for the LARGE
he OF ii chickens. The evidence of the pro
Nv cutting witness was peculiar for the Il
* that he claimed that he could identify
n chickens when picked. Armstrong "
H. badly beaten on the head with handcuffs
lib pistol and stone when arrested. 1t to
in three men TO eecure him. The evideI
ID. was concluded and the case will be argu
N, to-day. 1t Ia expected that court will
M journ to-day.
Id -
'sv ELKToN, April 4.-Evan Holland a
IN. Noah Wilson, two oolored men "
engaged in disturbance on SundI
al March 9Th, were arraigned before Mag
.v' trate A. j. Scott, at the sheriff's office,
Saturday night, on the charge Of riott
conduct. The cause of the hearing
rye being sooner was that Holland had OF
Mi been recently apprehended. Wilson 81
lay Holland, wounding him slightly, beca,
"a, the latter was assaulting his wife, O
Vas Holland had threatened to shoot hi
his The magistrate decided not to send
the case to court and fined each So and COZ
ing amounting In each case to $10.45.
the Joseph oulleny, an employe Of
was Mccullough Iron Company ut their W,
| to ammen works, died on Friday of pm
the monia. His funeral will take place /
fter afternoon. He leaves two children.
dis The Rev. Ohalmers Frazier Of Prir
en- ton Seminary, preached at the Eli
ter Presbyterian Church yesterday In
irst absence of the pastor.
EN-
s NEWARK.
lF,., al 49,.